Mixed Martial Arts Weekend Watch & Bet

Match information

Alex Pereira enters UFC 300 as one of the most credentialed strikers to ever compete in MMA, thanks to winning titles across two divisions while competing in GLORY Kickboxing. In his next fight, Pereira defends his 205-pound belt against Jamahal Hill, who has one more fight in the UFC but the exact same number of knockouts as the reigning light heavyweight champion with four. Despite similar statistic, Pereira maintains his status as the favorite in the fight with many believing his striking ability will get him past another former UFC champion but Matt Brown isn’t so sure that’s the case. “People way overhype how technical Alex Pereira is,” Brown said on the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer. “He’s a gigantic human being. He is a big 205er. You ever go stand next to the son of a b****, he is huge. He’s bigger than most 205ers that I know. That goes a long way, and he has enough technique and techniques that work for him. “I actually watched part of striking instructional on Dynamic Striking, and I was like this stuff is ridiculous. He looks terrible doing this. There’s no breakdown. It’s just like no, hit like this, kick like this. Like dude, you do that, not us! The point is, he’s rough around the edges, but it works great for him.” Pereira built an incredible resume in kickboxing with numerous high-profile wins, including two over future UFC champion and rival Israel Adesanya, and the Brazilian has found a way to transition that style to the UFC. In just seven fights with the promotion, he became a two-division champion and he holds wins over four opponents who have held UFC titles in the past. A lifelong striking enthusiast and the UFC veteran with the most knockouts in welterweight history, Brown acknowledges Pereira is a vicious knockout artist. He’s not sold that the Brazilian is actually as technically proficient on the feet as many might believe. Brown points out there are plenty of examples of high-level strikers who weren’t known for being technical in their fights. He looks specifically at a couple of famed boxers who made a career for themselves as exciting, championship level fighters that weren’t technicians on the feet. Perhaps the same could be said for Pereira, who delivers massive power behind every punch and kick. The one time that backfired, however, is when he zigged when he should have zagged against Adesanya in their UFC rematch; “The Last Stylebender” dropped him with a devastating knockout punch.